An apparent case of interspecific allopreening by a Royal Spoonbill Platalea regia Matthew Mo NSW Department of Primary Industries, Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, Woodbridge Road, Menangle NSW 2568, Australia. Email: [email protected] DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7882/AZ.2016.020 Introduction The altruistic behaviour, allopreening is widespread Spoonbills in breeding plumage were observed, with one amongst birds, especially in aggregating species (Waltman spoonbill seen on a nest on 23 March 2016. Subsequent Downloaded from http://meridian.allenpress.com/australian-zoologist/article-pdf/38/2/214/2866583/az_2016_020.pdf by guest on 28 September 2021 and Beissinger 1992; Radford and Du Plessis 2006; Cox visits on 2 and 9 May located four immature spoonbills in 2012; Gill 2012). One obvious benefit is the removal of a mixed flock with six to eight Australian White Ibises. ectoparasites and maintenance of plumage condition, On both these days, the mixed flock was at the same although close proximity may also aid the transmission locality, with individual birds alternating between feeding of parasites (Frigerio et al. 2016). Allopreening also in the shallows of the western side of the lake and resting appears to have important social functions, with some or preening on the small island structures. studies suggesting it promotes pair bonding (Barbour and Degange 1982), buffers the negative effects of social stress On 12 May, observations were made between 1145 and (Scheiber et al. 2005; Hennessy et al. 2006; Stoẅe et al. 1320 hours. There were two immature spoonbills and 2008) and reduces the likelihood of interspecific conflicts seven ibises present. At first, there was little interaction and associated breeding failures (Lewis et al. 2007). between any of the birds. During the observation period, both spoonbills and four ibises spent varying amounts The Royal Spoonbill Platalea regia and Australian White of time bathing and preening. The first interaction seen Ibis Threskiornis molucca are two common waterbirds was one spoonbill allopreening the other’s tail and back that occur in freshwater and brackish environments in feathers while it was bathing (Fig. 1). The bathing spoonbill Australia. These species are known to form associations intermittently paused and turned its neck to face the other and breed alongside each other in mixed-species nesting colonies (Marchant and Higgins 1990). In this note, I present an apparent observation of interspecific allopreening by an immature Royal Spoonbill toward an adult Australian White Ibis. Observation The observation was recorded on 12 May 2016 at Lake Belvedere, a large artificial wetland in the southern portion of Bicentennial Park, Homebush Bay, New South Wales (33° 51’ 2.33” S, 151° 4’ 32.50” E). The Australian White Ibis is a regular sight at this location while the Royal Spoonbill is found at this location intermittently. Three prior visits were made to the site, summarised Figure 1. Platalea regia in Table 1. On 25 November 2015, two adult Royal Royal Spoonbill allopreening another spoonbill. Photo, M. Mo Table 1. Dates and times of observation periods, and weather conditions Observation date Time (start) Duration Weather conditions 25 November 2015 0920 hr 25 min Clear skies, light wind 23 March 2016 1340 hr 70 min Clear skies, light to no wind 2 May 2016 1000 hr 25 min Clear skies, light to no wind 9 May 2016 1630 hr 45 min Cloudy, some rainfall, no wind 12 May 2016 1145 hr 95 min Clear skies, light wind Australian 214 Zoologist 2016 Interspecific allopreening Downloaded from http://meridian.allenpress.com/australian-zoologist/article-pdf/38/2/214/2866583/az_2016_020.pdf by guest on 28 September 2021 Figure 2. Royal Spoonbill Platalea regia standing behind Figure 4. Royal Spoonbill Platalea regia allopreens the the bathing Australian White Ibis Threskiornis moluccus. Australian White Ibis Threskiornis moluccus when it preens Photo, M. Mo. and pulls back during bathing bouts. Photo, M. Mo. Figure 3. Royal Spoonbill Platalea regia dips its bill below Figure 5. The Australian White Ibis Threskiornis moluccus the water in close proximity. Photo, M. Mo pauses and turns its head toward the Royal Spoonbill Platalea regia. Photo, M. Mo. spoonbill, but did not move away. This bathing-allopreening Other cases of interspecific interaction occurred for approximately 6 min. allopreening Later in the observation period, an ibis descended from an To the best of my knowledge, this is the first case of island to bathe. It bathed alone for approximately 5 min interspecific allopreening in the order Ciconiiformes before one of the spoonbills feeding nearby approached. reported in literature. Although allopreening is often Initially, the spoonbill watched (Fig. 2), but after 3 min, associated with altruistic behaviour (Lewis et al. 2007), it began to partially submerge its bill close to the ibis (Fig. the immature Royal Spoonbill was more likely acting 3). The spoonbill then started to reach for the ibis’s tail as a matter of curiosity and exhibiting juvenile play (cf. feathers, pulling back during the ibis’s bathing bouts and Diamond and Bond 2003; Mo and Waterhouse 2015), taking the chance to allopreen while the ibis preened itself or was exhibiting behaviour important in pair-bonding (Fig. 4). At times, the spoonbill appeared to reach for the and which is more likely to be directed at conspecifics ibis’s uropygial gland with the tip of its bill, however it as the spoonbill matures. Harrison (1968) recorded was difficult to confirm because of the angle and constant allopreening between Silvereyes Zosterops lateralis and movement. This occurred for approximately 11 min, Yellow White-eyes Z. luteus (Passeriformes), which is the during which the ibis paused and turned its head toward only other case of interspecific allopreening in Australia the spoonbill seven times (Fig. 5). This was possibly a sign mentioned in scientific literature. that the allopreening was unsolicited, although it did not move away at any time. At one point, the ibis turned its Interspecific allopreening has been recorded in other neck and the two birds’ bills made contact. species outside Australia, most recently between Australian 2016 Zoologist 215 Mo Crested Caracaras Caracara plancus and Black Vultures been recorded in female Brewer’s Blackbirds Euphagus Coragyps atratus (Ng and Jasperson 1984; Palmeira cyanocephalus, which Verbeek et al. (1981) discussed 2008; Souto et al. 2009). Invitation displays performed behaviour associated with solicitation of allopreening by cowbirds Molothrus spp. to encourage other bird from other species. species to allopreen have been described by many authors (Chapman 1928; Selander and La Rue 1961; Acknowledgements Selander 1964; Dow 1968; Rothstein 1971,1977; Ryser and Dewey 1985). Harrison (1963) also recorded David R. Waterhouse and W. Ashley and Robyn Hewson displays by the Rice Grackle Psomocolax oryzivorus, are thanked for useful discussions. I especially appreciate as well as interspecific allopreening between two owl Elouise Sciacca for encouraging me in the preparation of species in captivity (Harrison 1965). This behaviour has this manuscript. References Downloaded from http://meridian.allenpress.com/australian-zoologist/article-pdf/38/2/214/2866583/az_2016_020.pdf by guest on 28 September 2021 Barbour, D.B. and Degange, A.R. 1982. Reciprocal independence in Powerful Owl Ninox strenua fledglings in allopreening in the Brown-headed Nuthatch. Auk 99: 171. suburban Sydney. Australian Field Ornithology 32: 143-153. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/4086037 Ng, D. and Jasperson, B.D. 1984. Interspecific allopreening Chapman, F.M. 1928. The nesting habits of Wagler’s between Crested Caracara and Black Vulture. 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